British actress Kate Beckinsale has bravely opened up about her significant weight loss, describing it as a direct result of profound grief following the deaths of both her mother and stepfather. In a raw and tearful video posted on Instagram, the 52-year-old star directly addressed the 'nasty' online commentary about her changing appearance.
A Physical Manifestation of Grief
Beckinsale explained that her thin frame is not a choice but a 'physical manifestation of grief'. She described 2025 as a 'really really hard year', marking the final year of her mother's life. The actress reflected on a lifetime of loss, beginning with her father's fatal heart attack when she was just five years old.
'I watched my 31-year-old father die of a huge heart attack, and then I watched my stepfather die and I watched my mother degenerate and die,' she said, breaking down. 'Such an incredible amount of suffering and what I will say, it doesn't make you feel very hungry.'
Trauma and a Body in Shock
The Van Helsing star was keen to distinguish her experience from an eating disorder like anorexia. 'It's not like anorexia where you're starving and it's a kind of willpower thing,' Beckinsale clarified. 'It's like your body has closed down. I think it's shock and trauma.'
She believes the trauma of witnessing her loved ones' 'horrific and sometimes violent and awful deaths' has fundamentally affected her physical state. Her stepfather, television director Roy Battersby, died in January 2024 at the age of 87. Her mother, actress Judy Loe, passed away in July 2025 after a battle with cancer, diagnosed nearly two years prior.
Responding to Cruelty with Grace
Beckinsale used the emotional moment to fire back at those who have left cruel comments about her body online. She credited her parents for raising her with values that would prevent her from ever behaving similarly.
'For all the people who are inconvenienced by me being too thin or too anything or not what they expect me to be like, I really really wish that you had parents like I had,' she stated. 'I absolutely refuse to become like you.'
Earlier in the month, the actress had hinted at her struggles, writing on social media that she was going through one of the 'most deeply painful times' of her life, adding that 'the body keeps the score'.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
